Pecco Bagnaia has issued a cautionary note regarding his pace following what he termed a "positive" first day at the Sepang MotoGP test. The Ducati rider reflected on his performance with the GP26, emphasizing that while he feels optimistic, it's essential to remain grounded about his current form.
Having faced significant challenges during the 2025 season, where he managed only two victories and ultimately placed fifth in the championship standings, Bagnaia is keenly aware of the need for consistency on his Ducati bike. During initial tests of the 2026 model last November in Valencia, he experienced a sense of rejuvenation, which carried over to Tuesday’s opening day of the Sepang pre-season tests.
By the end of the day, Bagnaia had secured the eighth position overall after experimenting with various new components, particularly a bold new aerodynamic fairing. After the session, he shared his excitement with the official MotoGP website, stating, "It’s always fantastic being back on a MotoGP bike. The speed and power the bike provides is simply incredible. From my very first lap, I really enjoyed the experience. We had ample time to complete many laps, using both medium and soft tires."
Throughout the morning, Bagnaia focused on reconnecting with the bike and understanding how it felt compared to last year, which was crucial for him. He then directed his efforts toward testing new elements, expressing satisfaction with the outcome: "I’m happy; it was a positive first day. Right now, the balance feels encouraging."
One of the significant hurdles Bagnaia faced last season was a lack of confidence in the front end of his Ducati. He noted improvements in this area with the GP26 but remained cautious, recalling that he had also shown strong performance at Sepang during the previous year’s Malaysian Grand Prix. "Luckily, yes, but last year I was also fast and competitive here," he commented. "At this point, we just need to concentrate on understanding the new features and see if we can gain an advantage moving into Thailand as we begin the season."
Regarding the new aerodynamic components, Bagnaia mentioned that they felt quite familiar, expressing some uncertainty about which setup he would choose if a race were to happen tomorrow. "As always, some aspects are better, while others may not be as effective," he explained. "Honestly, I achieved similar lap times with both types of fairings. So, they are more or less on par. If the race were tomorrow, I might have some reservations about which front fairing to go with. However, considering this is our first test and these were the initial laps, I found it competitive."
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